When writing for the general public I try to write so my points can be understood by those with the reading comprehension level of a not particularly bright 8th grader who understands that context is an important part of communication.
For the record, I didn’t expect anybody on the Straight Dope Message Board to respond to this thread and say “Yes, I’m in favor of gun rights, but only for white people.” I clarify because apparently some of you think I’m talking about you personally.
In fact, I’m not even talking necessarily about gun owners. I’m talking about the large number of people in the US who are, either overtly, covertly, or even subconsciously racist. If they lean conservative, maybe they favor broad gun rights in the abstract. That could be true even if they’ve never held a gun in their lives.
I don’t really think that this will lead to bipartisan gun control legislation. It was a slightly sarcastic way of implying that more black people buying guns would make a lot of white people nervous who were not nervous before.
I’d also like to add: It’s amazing how all you have to do is mention that racism might be a problem in our society, and no matter where you are or what the context, a dozen white faces will pop up and wail “How dare you call me a racist?!?”
I think that the “widespread lobbying prowess” of the NRA is less attributable to its membership size than it is to the fact that every Congressperson knows that every one of those members owns a gun,
It will be interesting to see if the number of blacks shot while exercising their “right” to open carry is disproportionate to their numbers in society as a whole.
Its because you are calling them racist. See the paragraph that preceded this quote:
Do you think this isn’t calling people racist? You are implying that white people will be nervous as a result of black people buying guns. Because racism.
WOOHOO! More pro-2nd Amendment voters. I welcome each and every one of them.
Amen to that!
Maybe they can give people a free gun with their obamaphone.
Well then, more proof that Wayne LaPierrre is a drooling moron, “race”/ethnic background/heritage should have NOTHING to do with eligibility to own a firearm
It’s bad enough that Federal Form 4473 has ethnicity breakdowns on it as well, that datum point should have nothing to do with firearm ownership.
-MacTech- firearm owner and former NRA member (I let it lapse because their marketing department constantly barrages their members to give them even more money…)
I refuse to be an NRA member these days because I would be sore from how hard I’d cringe every time Wayne LaPierre opens his mouth.
That shows how little you know about conservatives.
I don’t think very highly of the NRA – I’m grateful for what they manage to do in defense of the Second Amendment, but they’re too liberal on a lot of points for my taste.